Bottle capping apparatus



Dec. 5, 1944. A. J. MAREK I BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 4.

50 lnventor v 6 A. J. M A R E K y v WW 3 a Arm/"fleas A. J. MAREK BOTTLE CAPP-ING APPARATUS Dec. 5, 1944.

Filed April 22, 1940 -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5.

A I M A E Km/entor 1 WIM M v flttorneu Dec. -5, 1944. A. J. MAREK 2,364,380

BOTTLE CAP]; IN G APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 13.

A J MARE K mventar 5/ W'M W 115 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS Anthony Joseph Marek, Blackheath Park, London, England, assignor to Kork-N-Seal Limited, London, England, a British company Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,025

In Great Britain July 5, 1939 9 Claims.

This invention relates to capping heads for use with machines for capping bottles by forcing inwardly a portion of the skirt of a metal cap. This method of capping bottles and machines for performing the capping operation are known per se and the object of the present invention is to provide improved means for this purpose and more particularly an improved and compact form of capping head of unit construction, which may be inserted into or removed from the machine frame as a self contained unit ofsmall compass. The invention is not concerned with the construction of the machine frame, but it may be mentioned that in its simplest form the same may consist of any fixture to which the self contained capping head may be attached, or the machine frame may also include hand or power operated means for performing the capping operation.

The invention consists in .a capping head for,

a machine for capping bottles, comprising a plurality of integral or' sectional deformable rings whichare spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the head and means for operating upon rings whereby they .are simultaneously I, or successively compressed to force inwardly different peripheral portions of a metal cap in position on the neck of a-bottle-or the like.

The invention also consists in .a capping head for a machine for capping bottles by forcing inwardly a peripheral portion of the skirt of a metal cap under an annular lip or ledge on the bottle neck, comprising .an outer casing accommodating .a hollow and axially displaceable plunger with which is associated a plurality, e. g. a pair, of integral or sectional deformable rings which are spaced from one another in the direction of the axis .of the plunger and are adapted, upon dis-.- .placement of the plunger in one direction, to be compressed and forced inwafdly to engage the skirt of the metal cap.

The improved form of capping head produced in accordance with the invention may be used with various forms of metal caps requiring a plurality .of portions-of the skirt to :be forced inward .ly and for convenience is hereinafter described more particularly as applied to the'formation of caps which comprise an upper cap portion (pref--.

erably screw threaded) and a lower cap portion integrally connected therewith but readily separable therefrom when required, both portions having parts forced inwardly to conform with the configuration of the bottle neck.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the

same will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically and in section one mode of carrying the invention into effect;

Fig, 3 is a sectional view of another construction of capping head incorporating the invention; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of two further constructions of capping head produced in accordance with the invention in which toggle elements are used for the compression of the deformable rings, the section being taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 6';

Fig. 6 is a section of the line VI-VI of Figs. 4 and 5, certain parts being omitted for clearness;

Figs. '7 and .8 show the deformable rings used in the constructions shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

I Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the plunger used in the construction of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the plunger and plunger ring associated therewith;

Fig. 11 shows the details of the toggle elements and slides; and

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate one mode of employing the improved form of capping head produced in accordance with the invention.

The capping head shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an outer casing l the lower end of which is screw threaded interiorly and has screwed therein a sleeve 2 formed with ,an inwardly extending ledge '3 on w'hic'hrests one of the aforesaid deformable r'ings 4 composed, for example, of rubber. On the ring 4 rests a rigid ringlike .member 5 composed, for example of metal and on the latter rests another .deformable ring 6. The outer casing also accommodates ahollow and axially .displaceable plunger Ill having its lower end bearing against the upper surface of the deformable ring .6 so that, by the downward displacement of the plunger, the two deformable rings can be com-pressed and forced inwardly as shown in Fig. 2. The parts are dimensioned according to the nature of the capping operation to be performed -and,-:in operation, the bottle neck with the cap placed in position thereon is introduced through the' opening in the sleeve 2 until the upper surface of the cap engages a dished surface such as that shown at 12 whereupon the plunger is lowered whilst the bottle and cap are held in position "to cause the deformation of the rings 4 and 6 so that their inner diameters are reduced and the skirt of the metal cap is pressed uniformly all around into engagement with the recessed portions formed in the neck of the bottle to seal the same. When the plunger is raised the parts return to their former positions whereupon the sealed bottle can be removed.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is similar in many respects to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but, in this instance, the deformable rings 4 and 6 are adapted to be compressed by the wedge-like or cam action between an inclined surface formed upon the inner surface of the outer casing and radially movable slides carried by the plunger and engaging with the deformable rings. As will be seen, in this construction, the outer casing I has a depending skirt portion provided with an axial cylindrical bore |6 wherein a plunger I1 is mounted, a spring l8 being disposed between the casing and the plunger tending to press the latter downwards and suitable means bein provided for limiting the downward movement of the plunger. At its lower end the inner portion of the casing is formed with an inclined surface 20 with which engage the outer ends of two sets of radially displaceable slide members 2| and 22. The upper set of slide members are accommodated in suitable slots in the plunger and engage at their inner ends the upper deformable ring 6. Beneath the latter is a rigid element corresponding with the aforesaid metal ring and beneath the ring 5 is the second deformable ring 4 engaged by the inner ends of the second set of slidemembers 22. the said rings being held in position by a screw threaded sleeve 23. In operation, the bottle neck with the cap placed in position thereon is introduced through the opening in the annular member 23 until the upper surface of the cap engages a recess 24 in the bottom of the plunger whereupon, by relative movement between the casing and the plunger produced, for example, by pushing the bottle and the plunger upwardly against the action of the spring I 8, the sets of slide members 2| and 22 in engaging with the inclined surface 20 are caused to move inwardly, thereby causing the rings 4 and 6 to be deformed so that their inner diameters are reduced and the skirt of the cap is pressed uniformly all around into engagement with the neck of the bottle for sealing.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is similar in many respects to that shown in Fig. 3 but, in this instance. toggle elements of the character shown in Patent No. 2,180,812 are used for the compression of the deformable rings. Like the construction shown in Fig. 3, the capping head is provided with a sk rt portion having an axial cylindrical bore 30 wherein a plunger 3| is mounted for axial displacement. A spring 32 is disposed between the casing and the plunger 3 I. tending to press the plunger downwards. The downward stroke of the plunger 3| is limited by screw bolts 33, which are screwed into the plunger 3| and engage with their heads shoulders 34 for-med at the bottom of recesses 35 in the casing I.

The plunger 3| is formed on its underside with a plurality of equiangularly and radially disposed recesses 35 (Figs. 9 and having parallel side walls. Each of the recesses has mounted therein for radial sliding a slide member 38, the slide members being arranged so that their inner ends bear against one of the aforesaid deformable rings, namely, the upper ring 6. Also, each slide member 38 is pressed outwardly by a spring 39.

With each slide member 38 is associated a toggle element 40, see Fig. 11, the said toggle elements being radially disposed and each laterally guided in one of the recesses 36 of the plunger 3|. In plan view, the inner end of each toggle element is straight and, in end elevation, rounded and engages a correspondingly formed shoulder on the associated slide member 38, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 11. The outer end of each toggle member is formed with a rounded head enlargement and is curved in plan view. The outer ends of the toggle elements bear against a shoulder or socket formed in a sleeve member 42 which i mounted in position in a recess formed by an outwardly flared portion of the skirt portion of the casing l and is held in position by a ring 44. By this arrangement, the toggle elements are in pivotal engagement at their outer and inner ends with the skirt of the outer casing and their associated slide members respectively.

In the inoperative position shown in Fig. 4 each toggle occupies a downwardly inclined position, owing to the pressure exerted upon its inner end by the spring 39. In this position the slide members 38, which bear against said inner ends of the toggle elements 40, are farthest apart from the axis of the machine. As may be seen from Fig. 7, the deformable ring 6 is provided with a plurality of peripheral notches 45, in each of which engages, as shown in Fig. 6, a portion of the plunger 3|, situated between two of the recesses 36 when the machine is in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 4. Each peripheral portion of the deformable ring 6 between two of the notches 45 is engaged by one of the slides 38. Beneath the deformable ring 6 is disposed a rigid or metal ring 4| which is threaded exteriorly and screwed into a plunger ring which is secured by screws 5| to the portions of the plunger 3| situated between the recesses 36. The parts of the plunger which projectinwardly into the notches 45 also serve as stops for the ring 41. The plunger ring 50 is, like the plunger, formed at its underside with a series of radially disposed recesses 5|, Fig. 10, each accommodating a slide member 52 bearing at its inner end against the periphery of the second deformable ring 4, each slide member being pressed outwardly by a sprin 54 housed in a recess of another ring 55 disposed beneath the plunger ring so that the outer end of the spring engages with a depending skirt portion 56 of the associated slide member. With each slide member 52 is associated a toggle element 58, said toggle elements being radially disposed and each laterally guided in one of the recesses 5| of the plunger ring 50. The toggle elements '58 are similar to the toggle elements 40 and operate upon the ring 4 in a manner corresponding with that in which the toggle elements 40 operate upon the ring 6. For this purpose, the outer ends of the toggle elements 58 bear against a shoulder or socket formed in a sleeve 60 disposed beneath the ring 44, the sleeve, being held in position by a ring 62 which is, in turn, held in position by a sleeve 64 screwed into the lower end of the casing In operation, the bottle neck with the cap placed thereon is introduced through the opening of the annular member 66 until the top surface of the cap touches the bottom of a dished portion 68 of the plunger, whereupon by relative movement between the casing and the plunger produced, for example, by pushing the bottle and the plunger upwardly against the action of the spring 32, the toggle elements 40 and 58 are caused to rock about their outer ends with the result that the toggles push the slides 38 and 52 inwardly, thereby causing the rings 4 and 6 to be deformed and their inner diameters to be I or difierent extents.

aeeaaeo reduced so that the rings press the skirt of the metal cap inwardly with all around uniformity to efiect the sealing of the bottle. 'When the upward pressure on the, bottle is released the parts return into their positions shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the sealed bottle can be removed.

In some instances, the deformable rings may be required to be compressed sequentially or differentially. This can readily be provided for with a capping head produced in accordance with thepresent invention. For example, the angles of inclination of the two'sets of toggles, the lengths of the toggles or, alternatively, the shaping of the surface (Fig. 3) may be chosen or determined so that the segments or slides are moved in sequence or differentially accordingto the requirements to be met. In this connection, it will be observed that, in the arrangement shown in Fig, 5, the toggle elements of one set are inclined to those of the other set. .In other respects, the embodiment shown in Fig. '5 is similar to that shown in Fig, 4 and corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numerals. Also, in some instances, one or both of the deformable v:rings maybe made up of a series of arcuate sections as, for example, by dividing the same radially in planes bisecting the angles formed by the notches 45, the action of a sectional ring or rings being the same as that of an undivided ring or rings.

A mentioned above, the improved form of .cappinghead produced in accordance with the pres ent invention may be used for various forms of metal caps requiring a plurality of portions of the skirt to be forced inwardly and, from the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the .deformable rings maybe arranged to be compressed simultaneously or successively and to the same As an example, of one .form of cap with which the capping head is particularly suitable, reference is directed to Figs. .12 and 13. Fig. 12 shows the cap in position-on the bottle neck prior to being operated upon by the capping head. The cap is here shown as a pilfer proof cap comprising an upper portion A which is required to form a screw top closure or re-closure and a lower part B which is required to be pressed under a lip or ledge below the screw threaded portion of the neck of the bottle and which is in the nature of a tear-off strip having a tear-off tab C, the said parts being integrally connected with each other but readily separable as, for example, by the provision of perforations or a weakened part D. From a comparison of Figs. 12 and 13, it will be seen that by the simultaneous or successive compressing action of the two rings 4 and B, a cap of the form shown in Fig. 12 can readily be converted into the form shown in Fig. 13. It; will also be observed that the. cap being formed is here provided with a protecting bead E for protecting the fingers from injury from the edge which is formed upon the lower end of the upper portion A after the removal of the lower portion 13. This protecting bead is of larger diameter than the cap itself and hence, in this instance, the lower resilient ring must be of greater diameter than the upper resilient ring and also of greater diameter than the bead.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A capping head for a machine for capping bottles having an annular ledge, comprising an outer casing having a cylindrical bore, a plunger axiallymova'ble in said bore and having a bottle neck "receiving socket therein, a pair of deformable rings in said socket spaced from one another 'in the direction of the axis of the "plunger :for engagement with diilierent portions of the skirt of a metal cap in position on the neck of a bottle, .a relatively rigid ring interposed between the deform-able rings and adapted to surround the annular ledge, two sets of superposed radially displaceable slides carried by the plunger and having their inner endsengaging the deformable rings and their outer ends displaceable by the casing whereby, upon relative movement between the outer casing and the plunger, the deformable rings are compressed to force inwardly spaced portions of said skirt at opposite sides of said annular ledge.

12. A capping head for a machine for capping bottles with necks having at least two spaced annular ledges, comprising an outer casing hav sing a cylindrical bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore and having a bottle neck receiving socket therein, a pair of deformable ring in said socket spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the plunger for engagement with diiferent portions of the skirt of a metal cap in position on the neck of a bottle and a relatively rigid ring interposed between the deformable rings and adapted .to surround the lower annular ledge, means for axially fixing said deformable and rigid rings in said plunger, and means radially movable inwardly of the plunger upon relative movement between the outer cas ng and the plunger for radially compressing both deformable rin gs to force inwardly spaced parts of said skirt under each of said annular ledges.

3. A capping .head for a machine for capping bottles comprising an .outer .casing having a 'cylin dri'ca'l'bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore,

said plunger being provided with .a bottle neck receiving socket and two xially spaced et of radial grooves, .a pair of deformable rings in said socket spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the plunger for engagement with different portions of the skirt of a metal cap in positionon the neck of a bottle and lying in register with said sets of radial grooves, a relatively rigid ring interposed between said deformable rings and sets of radial grooves and fixed to said plunger, and a plurality of sets of radially movable slide members movable in said grooves and engaging the said deformable rings, said outer casing being formed with an inclined surface with which the outer ends of the slide members engage so that upon relative movement between the outer casing and the plunger the slide members are caused to compress the deformable rings and -to force inwardly spaced parts of said skirt.

4. A capping head for a machine for capping bottles comprising an outer casing having a cylindrical bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore, said plunger being provided with a bottle neck receiving socket and two axially spaced sets of radial grooves, a plurality of deformable rings in said socket spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the plunger for engagement with different portions of the skirt of a metal cap in position on the neck of a bottle and lying in register with said sets of radial grooves, a plurality of sets of radially movable slide members movable in said grooves and engaging said deformable rings and a plurality of sets of radially disposed toggle elements, each toggle element pivotally engaging the inner surface of said outer casing at its outer end and one of said slide members at its inner end, so as to cause said slide members to move inwardly when the plunger moves in one direction and to allow them to move outwardly when the plunger moves in the opposite direction, each toggle element als extending into one of the grooves of the plunger and being laterally guided thereby during the toggle action, and means for axially fixing said rings Within said socket.

5. A capping head for a machine for capping bottles comprising an outer casing having a cylindrical bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore, said plunger being provided with a bottle neck receiving socket and a pair of sets of radial grooves, one set being spaced from the other in a direction of the axis of the plunger, a pair of deformable rings in said socket and fixedly spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the plunger for engagement with different portions of the skirt of a metal cap in position on the neck of a bottle, a relatively rigid ring interposed between the said pair of deformable rings and fixed to said plunger, a pair of sets of rigidly movable slide members movable in said grooves and engaging said deformable rings and a pair of sets of radially disposed toggle elements, each toggle element pivotally engaging the inner surface of said outer casing at its outer end and one of said slide members at its inner end, so as to cause said slide members to move inwardly when the plunger moves in one direction and to allow them to move outwardly when the plunger moves in the opposite direction, each toggle element also extending into one of the grooves of the plunger and being laterally guided thereby during the toggle action.

6. A capping head as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of the deformable rings has peripheral notches and the slide members engage portions of the rings between such notches.

7. A capping head according to claim 4 including resilient means engaging the slide elements and urging them to an outward position.

8. A capping head for a machine for capping a bottle having an outwardly extending circumferential ledge spaced below the lip of the bottle, comprising an outer casing having a cylindrical bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore, said plunger having an axially extending socket formed therein to receive the neck of said bottle with a metal cap thereon having a skirt, said socket having a closed end to engage the top of the cap on the bottle and limit its displacement relative to the bottle, the wall of said socket having a pair of axially spaced annular grooves formed therein the portion of said wall between said grooves being spaced from said closed end a distance-corresponding to the distance between the top of a cap on said bottle and the ledge thereon, a deformable ring positioned in each groove in the socket wall, said plunger having lateral passages extending from said grooves to the exterior thereof, and means in said passages laterally displaceable inwardly upon relative axial displacement of the casing and plunger to exert radially inward pressure on said deformable rings to press the skirt of the cap against the neck of the bottle on each side ofv said ledge.

9. A capping head for a machine for capping bottles having an annular ledge, comprising an outer casing having a cylindrical bore, a plunger axially movable in said bore and having a bottle neck receiving socket therein, a pair of deformable rings in said bore spaced from one another in the direction of the axis of the plunger for engagement with diiferent portions of the skirt of a metal cap in position on the neck of a bottle, and a relatively rigid ring interposed between the deformable rings and adapted to surround the annular ledge, said deformable rings being adapted upon relative movement between the outer casing and the plunger to be compressed to force inwardly spaced parts of said skirt at opposite sides of said annular ledge, said rigid ring having its radial surfaces inclined whereby the ring is of greater thickness at its outer diameter than at 

